Mary Hallward Driemeier, World Bank Group – Senior Economic Advisor in the Finance, Competitiveness & Innovation (FCI) Global Practice. She has published widely on entrepreneurship, firm productivity and firm dynamics, the impact of the financial crisis, and women’s economic empowerment. She is a founding member of the Microeconomics of Growth Network. Her latest book is Trouble in the Making? The Future of Manufacturing-Led Development. She received her M.Sc. in Development Economics from Oxford University where she was a Rhodes Scholar and her Ph.D. in Economics from M.I.T.

Owen Rankin, President of OTH Strategies, a company he founded in 2013. He has almost 30 years of global experience on both the client (Johnson & Johnson, Tambrands) and agency (Edelman) sides in reputation management, corporate social responsibility, consumer and health marketing, senior executive positioning, corporate communications and global sponsorship activation. Over the Horizon Strategies marketing and consulting firm specializes in corporate strategy, positioning, and reputation management.  The firm has experience with multiple Fortune 500 companies across a range of industries.

Douglas Hallward-Driemeier, leads Ropes & Gray’s Appellate and Supreme Court practice, has presented more than 70 appellate arguments, including 16 times before the U.S. Supreme Court and before every federal circuit court of appeals. He has briefed and argued both civil and criminal matters covering a wide range of subjects and has particular experience in the areas of intellectual property, bankruptcy, the False Claims Act, securities litigation, and antitrust. Doug has also extensive experience litigating issues of concern to companies and foreign governments with international activities, including the Alien Tort Statute, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, and forum non conveniens.  He routinely consults with clients about avenues for challenging administrative actions and advises clients about the constitutionality of legislation affecting their interests.

JoAnne Brandes, founder and co-president of the Center for Leadership Excellence, an attorney, an outside Board member of several corporations, and speaker and consultant specializing in leadership development, corporate structure and governance, cultural transformation and change management.  JoAnne retired after an over 25 year career with the  S.C. Johnson family of companies as the Executive Vice President, CAO, General Counsel and Secretary of JohnsonDiversey, Inc., responsible for all legal matters, Human Resources, Communications, Public Affairs and administration for the company and its over 65 international and domestic subsidiaries.  JoAnne was a member of the company’s management committee and had major responsibility for the company’s acquisition and integration within a few years of global companies adding over $2 billion in sales.  JoAnne was named “Working Mother of the Year” by Working Mother Magazine several years ago for her work in developing corporate child care and other family friendly programs for employees.

Michele Rankin, Director, Experienced Professionals Career Management in the Career Management Center of Columbia Business School at Columbia University. Michele advises Executive MBAs, Full-time MBAs, and Alumni on career transitions. She also develops and presents workshops on Leadership, Self-Assessment, MBTI, Salary Negotiations, and other topics relevant to business leaders. Before joining the Business School in August 2014, Michele was Vice President for Marketing and Customer Experience at American Express in New York and London. She also served as Vice President for the NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee. Michelle holds an MBA in Finance from the NYU, Stern School of Business. Michele raises chickens and was recently elected to her fourth term as Township Committee member for her community.